Winter of Intent: An Elder Scrolls Tale

Greg J Miller

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Chapter 7

Turdas the 1st of Evening Star 4E71 Evening

As Edwyn Northwind stood with Arnaud Kingsley and Lord Flyte, the main doors of the Grand Hall opened briefly behind them and an Imperial man of rather ordinary appearance stepped inside. The new arrival paused a moment to look around, then headed directly for the far side of the room. At a glance, he appeared to be dressed rather less elegantly than most of those present at the gathering. It wasn't as though he was poorly attired, only that he didn't seem like a typical noble.

Lord Flyte felt prompted to offer some comment. "I cannot say that I recognise that Imperial man at all. Perhaps, he might well be the Emperor's Trade Minister, or perhaps his aide." Only from his behaviour, the man seemed more like a guest than a messenger.

Edwyn held no opinion either way.

Kingsley offered his own observations. "From appearances alone, I'd think that he hardly looks the part of an Imperial Minister."

Lord Flyte waved his hand. "Perhaps not. However, it does seem that he has gone directly to speak with Consul Carvain, whoever he might be."

Edwyn noted that the man did seem to know the Imperial Consul to Daggerfall. Aside from both men being Imperials and seemingly known to one another, he remained unconvinced that he was the Trade Minister that everyone was waiting for.

Kingsley looked back to Flyte, taking a sip from his glass. "I suppose that we'll find out soon enough."

"Yes, I suppose so." The Lord of Anticlere took a tiny sip from his own glass. He looked to Kingsley with an expression of idle curiosity. "So, Arnaud, I understand that you're related to the Horleys of Wayrest, is that so?"

Kingsley responded with a broad grin. "Yes, quite so. On my mother's side. One of my cousins currently holds a prominent position with Horley College."

"Oh, how remarkable." Flyte seemed to be taking note of Kingsley's appearance, noting that his ears seemed slightly more pointed than a typical Breton, much like his own and Edwyn's. "Tell me, if I may be so bold to inquire, is it possible that you have just a little added merish blood in your lineage?"

Kingsley returned an eager nod, evidently quite pleased with the opportunity to speak on the matter. "Well yes, as a matter of fact. How astute of you to notice. One of my forebears, on my grandfather's side was of the Direnni Clan of Balfiera."

"Oh, how simply marvellous." Flyte smiled broadly, fidgeting with the golden clasp on his coat. "There's just a little of Bosmeri royalty in my own heritage, you know?"

"Yes, I'd heard that." Kingsley reflected Flyte's beaming expression.

Flyte glanced toward Edwyn, then back toward Kingsley. "And Edwyn here also has some added merish blood, directly from his Altmer mother, no less."

Kingsley responded with a pleasant glance in Edwyn's direction, though it seemed likely that it was more for the Lord's benefit, than an honest expression of approval. Since Kingsley was already perfectly aware of Edwyn's parentage, he hardly expected any sudden shift in attitude to be a lasting one.

Lord Flyte seemed quite pleased with himself, as he looked back and forth between the other two. "I should think… that each of us represent something special, with regard to what provides Bretons of all stripes with the potential of greatness. I was just saying to Edwyn only a little earlier, that because we Bretons all come from both man and mer... well, that readily sets us apart from others."

"Quite right, quite right." Kingsley appeared notably eager to agree.

Edwyn merely responded with a polite nod, not feeling the need to encourage further discussion in that direction.

Looking to Kingsley, Flyte frowned lightly, then raised his eyebrows. "Tell me Arnaud, just what might the bankers of Wayrest be hoping to achieve during this coming summit?"

Kingsley nodded as he finished a sip of wine. "Yes well, I suppose that remains to be seen. As you should know, we currently have notable banking interests throughout much of the important parts of the Kingdom of Wayrest."

Flyte affected a wide-eyed agreeable expression. "Oh yes. I should say that the office of the Merchant Bank in Anticlere serves as a wonderful complimentary establishment, standing side by side with my family's own Bank of Anticlere."

Kingsley looked slightly smug. "I'm so very glad that you think so. The Merchant Bank does maintain rather close ties with the Royal Treasury, our grandest Bank of Wayrest. So by extension, I should hope that you find that regional office in Anticlere well placed to service the needs of your fine city."

"Oh yes, oh yes. Very much so. The security of investment for Anticlere's shipping interests has been most helpful. Most helpful indeed. Did you know, we are planning to soon add another large cargo vessel to our merchant fleet? Additionally, we may also possibly need to replace one of our smaller vessels, nearing the end of its time."

Kingsley raised his eyebrows slightly. "That does sound like things are going well."

"Oh yes. Well enough, I should think. Of course, one must spend money to make money. I imagine that I shouldn't need to tell you that." Flyte uttered an abbreviated chortle.

Kingsley responded with a somewhat forced chuckle of his own. "Oh no, not at all, Lord… Rodistair. I do understand completely."

"Of course, the fortunes of Anticlere's trade interests do still have much in common with the merchants of Wayrest." Flyte passed a glance in Edwyn's direction.

Edwyn inclined his head, responding with a small smile.

Flyte seemed to notice that Kingsley hadn't really answered with original query. "I do still wonder though… of just what Wayrest's banking interests might have to offer those similar interests in Daggerfall."

Kingsley's expression sobered somewhat. "Yes well, the Bank of Daggerfall has not proved quite so… so open… to fresh ideas in the past. I am certainly hoping to negotiate something, but I cannot say whether to expect any notable success." He paused. "Of course, I'd rather like to see Daggerfall allowing some lesser banking institutions to have small offices in the region. Perhaps like that regional office of the Merchant Bank in Anticlere. However, the Bank of Daggerfall has been most reluctant to permit anything of the kind, thus far."

Lord Flyte shrugged mildly. "One can only try. The broad Empire spread across Tamriel was not built in just one day."

"Too true, too true." Kingsley nodded agreeably, then took another sip of wine.

Edwyn held his tongue, thinking it might sound impertinent to mention that four of the nine provinces were no longer part of their broad Empire, and another province seemed barely half of once it had once been.

Flyte raised his head slightly, looking across the room. "Whoever that Imperial man might have been, he doesn't seem to have influenced pressing the matters at hand forward at all. Though it seems that Consul Carvain has now disappeared from view, for some reason."

Both Edwyn and Kingsley looked in the same direction, observing that the Consul had indeed seemingly gone off somewhere, since he didn't seem to be anywhere in sight.

Kingsley noted something else. "It seems that the Countess of Menevia might be headed over this way."

Flyte again fidgeted with his clasp. "I do hope that her conversation with the Duke of Alcaire has not soured her mood at all."

Kingsley's expression conveyed that he knew exactly what the Lord was suggesting.

It quickly became apparent that the Countess was indeed headed for their small group, though not which one of them might have drawn her attention.

Of course, it was Lord Flyte who spoke up first, once she drew near. "Countess, how delightful." His broad smile almost seemed almost more comical than genuine.

The Countess of Menevia returned a rather more restrained smile, nodding to the Lord. "Rodistair." She then looked to the other two. "Arnaud and… ah… Edwyn."

Both men responded in kind, though with just enough measure of formality to avoid unintended offence.

The Countess of Menevia stood slightly shorter than Lord Flyte, though her bundled hair rose up even higher than Flyte's wiry shock of white hair. Though easily younger than any of those three men, she was old enough that her eldest son had reached his twenties. Though not unattractive, the Countess seemed hardly of such an appearance as to turn heads, were it not for her manner of dress and adornment.

Addressing the Countess, Lord Flyte waved his free hand about in no direction in particular. "I do hope that you've found the company at this little gathering to be favourably pleasant."

The Countess firstly finished taking a small sip from her wineglass. "As pleasant as one can expect, I should think. Some company proves more favourable, some less so. As always, one can rarely find disfavour in the company of the Lord of Anticlere."

"Oh please, my dear Countess. Should my wife ever hear of such flattery, I might never again be permitted to travel beyond the gates of my own home. Such a thing… might hardly be favourable for anyone. Least of all, myself." He finished with a little chuckle.

The Countess responded with a little laugh of her own. Kingsley made a point of quickly joining in. Edwyn only returned an amused smile, briefly considering the volume of wine remaining in his glass.

Flyte resumed. "Tell me Countess, have you heard anything of the arrival of the Emperor's Trade Minister? Perhaps something from the Imperial Consul or some other?"

The Countess shook her head subtly. "No, not as such. Only some passing mention of the delay. They say that the Minister's transport seems to have been delayed."

"Most disappointing." Flyte took another sip of wine.

The Countess waved a hand back in the direction behind her. "I did just have a lovely conversation with ah… Qasim, a representative from the court of Stros M'Kai."

Flyte responded with a mischievous expression. "Oh, really? That taller Redguard wearing traditional Yokudan styled attire?"

The Countess nodded. "Yes, such a charming man... and so polite. He did take the time to tell me all about his Prince's fondness of High Rock teas. Though it passes that the Prince occasionally favours Camlorn Mint Tea, along with the others of his court, he's also very partial to several Menevian tea blends."

"Oh, how delightful." Lord Flyte beamed another broad grin.

The Countess flickered a fleeting glance in Edwyn's direction. It was fair to presume that she was fully aware that was he was representing Gavaudon's tea exports.

Kingsley added something. "I'd heard from Sentinel's Trade Minister that vessels from Stros M'Kai have been doing quite a bit of business with Senchal in recent times."

The Countess nodded. "Yes, Qasim made mention of it."

Kingsley maintained a smile, below a thoughtful brow. "Dealing with the Khajiit can be troublesome, but I suppose if the profit outweighs the danger…"

Flyte weighed in. "Though I suppose that I can recognise the allure, we tend to have Anticlere's merchant vessels steer clear of Elsweyr's Quin'rawl Peninsular. As I understand it, the Empire does most trading business via Khajiit of the Kingdom of Rimmen."

Without commenting, Edwyn thought much the same. Aside from Rimmen, most of the other independent Kingdoms of Elsweyr had remained far too chaotic over the past few decades the purposes of trade. The Emperor had tried to maintain some manner of limited trade treaties with Riverhold and Dune in the north, but both of those Kingdoms remained fiercely independent of any other Imperial influence. Only independent merchants and Khajiiti trade caravans handled any flow of product to and from those locations. With the pacification of Elsweyr an unlikely goal in the near future, he imagined that Emperor Attrebus only tried to encourage that ongoing trade activity as a means of keeping those somewhat friendly Khajiit Kingdoms serving as a buffer of sorts between the Empire and Aldmeri Dominion.

Noting a subtle glance from Lord Flyte, Edwyn realised that he hadn't really been listening to what the other three had been discussing. He only caught something about the perceived value of imported Khajiiti rugs, versus those of Yokudan style from Redguard artisans. He merely nodded with a small smile, as though he agreed with what had been said.

Flyte looked back across the room, looking just slightly impatient. "I do hope that the more official aspects of this gathering are not going to be delayed too much longer. I expect that my bodyguard might begin to fret if I don't come back out before the passing of midnight."

Kingsley looked to Flyte. "I'd heard that you have one of the famed Knights of the Flame with you."

Lord Flyte waved his hand about. "Oh yes, Sir Dalric stands as one of the most accomplished of his order. Sworn to my personal service, you know?"

The Countess made a gentle point. "I understand that the Duke of Alcaire also brought a Knight of the Flame along with him."

Flyte shrugged mildly. "Of course, the Knights of the Flame did firstly arise from the old Alcaire Knights… in honour of Sir Byric. Though they primarily serve in Anticlere, some Knights of their order do still offer service in Alcaire. During times of peace, of course, such as we currently enjoy under the rule of our Queen in Wayrest."

If only to suggest that she'd not come to Daggerfall without suitable protection, the Countess weighed in. "I have an Imperial man in my employ. A former Legion Battlemage and current member of my Castle's Royal Guard."

Flyte inclined his head in approval.

Kingsley wasn't about to remain silent. "Though competent enough, my own protection is rather more mundane. One of our people who normally provides security service for the Bankers Guild." He passed Edwyn a sideways glance. "I understand that Edwyn here brought an Orc along to the summit."

Lord Flyte raised his eyebrows. "Oh, how interesting."

Edwyn shrugged. "I didn't really see the need for a bodyguard, but my associates in my Guild thought otherwise."

Flyte fidgeted with his clasp. "I understand that they do make tenacious bodyguards, but sending an Orc to Daggerfall… how delightfully mischievous."

Edwyn tried to maintain his composure. "She's Fighters Guild. She's actually the niece of a former Guild Master… the one over in Chorrol."

"She's from Cyrodiil?" The Countess sought clarity.

"Well, no. She's actually from the Orsinium Protectorate area. From one of the civilised townships. She serves with Wayrest's Fighter Guild."

Neither the Countess nor Kingsley seemed to find much favour with what they heard.

Flyte had been frowning, but it appeared it was more because he was seemingly trying to remember something. "Oh, oh… that Guild Master. Do you mean that Orc who used to run the Fighters Guild in Cyrodiil for about two decades? The one whose brothers were said to have participated in Titus Mede's rise to Emperor?"

Edwyn nodded. "Yes, that sounds right. Karl gro-Baroth."

Flyte nodded in an animated fashion. "Yes, yes, I'd heard of him. I'd heard… I had heard that he held the favour of both Emperor Attrebus and his father before him."

Edwyn nodded again. "Yes, I'd heard something like that."

Flyte raised his eyebrows, affecting an odd expression. "Quite an unusual name for an Orc, don't you think."

Edwyn shrugged again. "I think that it had something to do with a Nord. I don't really know the full story."

Lord Flyte bobbed his head side to side. "I suppose that might make some sort of sense. I hear that Orcs do have some strange customs." His attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. "Oh, look at that. Prince Gothryd has finally joined us… and it seems that he has Consul Carvain at his side. Perhaps, something is about to happen."

Politely excusing herself, the Countess of Menevia departed to go off to speak with the Lady Glenpoint. Edwyn felt no pressing urge to shift from where he stood. In part, that was because he was not so far from the entryway to the Grand Hall. That meant that he didn't have far to go, when the opportunity arose to depart. For whatever reason, Lord Flyte seemed inclined to remain in Edwyn's company. Edwyn quietly wondered if it was merely because Flyte held some preference for company of anyone who was not of the nobility. It seemed obvious enough that Kingsley had remained near to Lord Flyte for the exact opposite of reason.

After the passing of just a short moment, Prince Gothryd and the Consul settled upon a position near the far wall. Royal Guards started to gently persuade guests to step back a little, creating a clear space immediately about the pair.

Lord Flyte seemed outwardly pleased that something was happening. "It does seem that Gothryd is about to speak, I should think."

Without commenting directly, Kingsley nodded his agreement, then took another sip from his glass.

Edwyn remained quiet, only adjusting his gaze toward the Prince and the Consul in anticipation. He'd grown quite weary of waiting about and was hoping that they wouldn't be too verbose with their addresses. He was also hoping that he wouldn't need to wait around for too long afterward.

After just a few moments, Gothryd raised his hands, calling the room to quiet, then waited a further lengthy moment for the murmurs to fall away. "For those I've not directly encountered before… I serve as your host, Prince Gothryd of Daggerfall. At this time, I stand as Regent, on behalf of my father, the King. Though sadly unable to attend at this time, King Camaron wishes to extend his warm greetings to all delegates travelling to our fine city to participate in the trade summit."

A polite applause filled the room as Gothryd paused momentarily. Edwyn found it slightly amusing at how adept the nobility were at patting the backs of their hands without spilling a drop of wine. Without making much noise, he managed to emulate the method.

"In the spirit of accord with the desires of our Emperor, the Royal Court of Daggerfall sincerely hopes… that this endeavour will prove to be as successful and as fruitful as our Emperor Attrebus would desire… and that all those here… will find favourable outcomes."

Again, further applause followed an extended pause. Edwyn's eyes narrowed just slightly. Though the tone of the Regent's words seemed sincere enough, he thought that it seemed a terribly awkwardly worded address.

Waving the guests toward quiet again, Gothryd indicated the Imperial official at his side, before stepping back a little. "The Imperial Consul to Daggerfall, Quintus Carvain."

The Consul nodded to Gothryd, then turned to address the room. "Thankyou, Prince Regent Gothryd." The Consul looked slightly nervous and ill prepared. "As many of you might already be thinking, despite best expectation, the Emperor's Trade Minister has not yet arrived from the Imperial City. We do hope that he will arrive here shortly, perhaps even this evening... and provided that the Minister is here, we are still intending to commence discussions tomorrow afternoon. However in his absence this evening, I will offer to speak on his behalf, offering welcome and thanks to each of you who have travelled here to participate in this trade summit."

As he paused for a long moment, another round of polite applause passed.

Carvain soon resumed, proceeding to expand further upon his welcome to the participants present, by recognising several by name. Pausing between each one, he went on to make a specific mention of each of the titled nobility and Ministers in attendance at the gathering. Reading from a list in an almost monotonous fashion, the Consul only very briefly mentioned the names of others from the various Guilds and other bodies. Kingsley seemed somewhat miffed that his name was not included in the first category.

At some point, Edwyn must have tuned out the drone of the Consul's voice. He only realised that he'd finished, because an extended round of applause was under way. He made an effort to join in, without spilling what remained in his wineglass.

It seemed that the formal matter of a welcoming address had finally concluded and Consul Carvain indicated that everyone should return to mingling. Edwyn turned slightly and cast a tentative glance toward the doors. When he looked back with the thought of making a polite excuse to take his leave of Lord Flyte, he noted that two Redguard men had suddenly decided to join their group. Of course it was Qasim of Stros M'Kai and Trade Minister Harim of Sentinel.

After informal introductions were exchanged, Edwyn had to listen to each of them speak of the virtues of the rug artisans of either city. Evidently, both of them felt the need to try to outdo the other, thinking that a representative of Wayrest's Merchants Guild would be swayed toward favouring one of them over the other. Given that he was beginning to feel quite tired, he would have much preferred that they waited until the trade discussions were officially under way.

Eventually, both Redguard had decided that they'd said enough and politely excused themselves to move onto speaking with someone else.

Lord Flyte commented. "They do seem to be eager to find favour with you."

Edwyn merely returned an amiable expression.

Even though there would likely be no reason for it, Kingsley appeared slightly put out that neither Redguard seemed even slightly interested in the banks of Wayrest.

"Oh, how terrible. I seem to have finished my wine. I really shouldn't have too much this evening, but it would seem quite improper to be seen at such a gathering without a charged glass at hand." Lord Flyte glanced about the crowd, then waved his empty glass to attract the attention of one of the palace servants.

He soon managed to acquire another glass of red wine. Kingsley's glass was still half full and Edwyn politely declined another, though his glass was near to empty. He was again contemplating taking his leave of the Grand Hall.

After taking a sip of wine, Lord Flyte suddenly made an odd choking noise. "Oh… oh my…" He made another choking sound as he dropped his wineglass and it fell to the floor, shattering with a splash of red.

Edwyn reacted just quickly enough to manage to catch Flyte as he began to slump toward the stone floor. A little more slowly, Kingsley moved to assist. They gently eased him back, away from where the glass had shattered.

A few exclamations of surprise could be heard from about the room. Some of the nearby guests stepped back a little. Some merely remained where they stood, with expressions of shock, looking toward where Lord Flyte was lying upon the floor. Aside from keeping him from falling and hurting himself, neither Edwyn nor Kingsley appeared to know exactly what to do next. There was a further disturbance as someone push past some stunned onlookers.

"Bloody Divines. To one side." The gruff command came from Marie Lafont, the representative from the Mariner's Guild.

Edwyn and Kingsley both clumsily shifted aside to make way.

Lafont mumbled under her breath as she kneeled down to examine Lord Flyte, then outstretched both her hands above him. Tendrils of eldritch light gathered about her forearms, creeping toward the formation of bright balls of healing magic in the palms of her hands. At her command, the healing magic radiated and washed over Flyte's prone form.

Looking over Lord Flyte, the Breton woman frowned. "He's alive, but not in good shape. I don't know what's wrong with him." She cast quick glances to both Edwyn and Kingsley.

Kingsley shook his head, without speaking.

Edwyn was thinking of the glass that fell upon the floor. "He may have choked on the wine… or perhaps… it was the wine?"

Consul Carvain suddenly appeared, standing over them. "Someone has gone for a palace healer. Is Lord Flyte…?"

Lafont responded with a grim expression. "Alive… but I hope that healer's not too far off." With a determined look, she cast a second healing spell over the Lord of Anticlere.

~O~